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Scoring against Nottingham Forest elevates a Derby County player to fans' favourite status. David Nugent did it twice in his time with the Rams.

Scoring a hat-trick at Pride Park is another sure-fire way to have your name ringing around the stadium. Nugent did in a memorable 4-2 victory over Fulham.

The 34-year-old striker's contract at Derby has not been renewed, as of the retained list issued this week - but he has left his mark.

Nugent joined Derby from Middlesbrough in January 2017. "He is a proven goalscorer at Championship level and he also has a great deal of experience as well to bring to the table. David has a track record of scoring important goals as well," said Steve McClaren, Rams boss at the time.

Derby County retained list

That experience included two promotions in three seasons with Leicester City and then Middlesbrough, and in each of his two full seasons at Derby he helped them to reach the play-offs.

They lost to Fulham at the semi-final stage in 2018, he came off the bench in both legs, but a knee injury suffered in this season's first leg against Leeds United ruled him out of the second leg and the final last month.

Seventeen goals in 95 games in all competitions for Derby is a goal every six games or so, which dipped below his career average of a goal every 3.7 games (175 in 652 appearances).

Nugent was 31 when he arrived at Derby and had played very little league football at Middlesbrough that season, just 40 minutes.

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Strangely, his time at Derby started and ended with a knee injury against Leeds. His debut was as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Elland Road in the January and the injury kept him out for almost four weeks.

His first goal in a Derby shirt was the winner in a 2-1 home victory over Barnsley, his second came in a 2-2 draw at the City Ground, Nottingham, in Gary Rowett's first game as manager.

That was a neat header from Bradley Johnson's ball into the area, and his three finishes in his treble against Fulham all showed his prowess, as did his goal in a 2-1 win at Norwich.

He was not prolific with Derby, indeed his last goal for the Rams was in September, but both Rowett and current boss, Frank Lampard, have heaped praise on Nugent for what he brought to the team.

Goals should be a big consideration when judging strikers. Only two in 38 appearances (15 starts) in the season just completed is not enough, nor as many as the player would have wanted, but his work for the team and his infectious enthusiasm has to be factored in.

It was still in pre-season when Lampard said: "David Nugent pre-season, wow! From the moment that we came in we have been amazed at his work rate in training every day, the smile on his face and his professionalism.

"He has been incredible in terms of running the line and every day in training he is the same. You almost want to tell him to slow down sometimes, because he will chase everything. You need somebody like that up there.

"He sets the tone of our team in how he works from the front. He closes down, and everybody closes down behind him, and we know that he can score as well."

Frank Lampard - 12 months on

After Nugent scored what would prove to be his final goal for Derby, in a 3-1 victory over Brentford, Lampard said: "Strikers get judged on their goals but what Nuge gives us as a team, we know. That is why he is playing.

"Even though we have Jack Marriott and Martyn Waghorn breathing down his neck, Nuge is setting an example. That is what we demand here - work-rate and work ethic, and be a constant. Nuge is a constant."

Those traits are why the chant of "Nuuuuuuge" could be heard most games. He left his mark on the fans.